WOMEN
Women’s Football finally played in Somalia
The world Football governing body, FIFA has welcomed the move by Somalia to finally start engaging with women’s Football.
On March 8th, 2024 women’s football was finally played in the capital Mogadishu to commemorate International Women’s Day with Futsal match.
SWF women’s football team, defeated their rivals of SSC by 3-1 in the maiden women’s futsal match, which fully broke the barriers that once prevented Somali women from playing football.
Gelson Vernandes, the FIFA director for member associations Africa welcomed that Somali women are now officially playing football.
“We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the Somali Football Federation for the activities organized, particularly to mark International Women’s Day. It is admirable to see such openness and to allow women to play and enjoy this sport. This initiative demonstrates a strong desire to promote gender equality and inclusion in football,” said Vernandes.
President of the Somali Football Federation (SFF), Ali Abdi Mohamed also praised the Women’s committee in the Federation of organizing the match to ensure women’s football officially starts in Somalia.
“I am really overjoyed that my long-standing dreams have become true. The futsal match was the start of a series of activities for the girls and young women who have been well involved in training programs for the past several months. Our aim is to see Somali women being fully active in the international football calendar very soon, added the President.
Ibtisam Yassin, the SFF head of Women’s football also said they are pleased that the department was able to organize a futsal match after several months of trainings and awareness workshops for both parents and girls.
“Our efforts paid off and we will continue organizing the awareness workshops for parents and girls plus the training programs, as this strategy has yielded positive results,” she added.
The head of Communication in SFF, Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar pointed out that having women’s football start in Somalia is a real sig of removal of cultural barriers.
“In Somalia, women have never played official football due to cultural barriers, as Somali parents never allowed their daughters to play football, because Somali parents recognized women’s football “the worst shame” and crime against Somali culture and religion, but after months of awareness workshops some parents have allowed their daughters to play the game,” added Abokar.
He also made it clear that now the awareness workshops are part of the SFF strategy to develop women’s football and overcome the cultural barriers that once prevented Somali women getting the opportunity to play the game.
The head coach of Tanzania’s women’s team has said he was impressed with his team’s win against Equatorial Guinea in the first leg first round of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.
Twiga Stars defeated Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in the first leg match played on Thursday at the Azam Stadium.
Bakari Shime made it clear that although his team should have won by a bigger margin, he was impressed at the level they responded after going a goal down in the first half.
“The team showed a lot of hunger and team work has they searched for goals. It is a good first leg result that we must ride on and go get another good result in the return leg,” added Shime.
Getruede Engueme gave the visitors the lead after 42 minutes to silence the home fans. But Twiga Stars responded positively to score three second half goals though Stumai Abdallah, Enekia Kasonga and Diana Msewa.
Action in the WAFCON 2026 qualifiers continues on Friday with four teams from CECAFA Zone taking to the field. Uganda will host Ethiopia, while Djibouti take on Togo.
Rwanda will also face Egypt at the Kigali Pele Stadium, and Kenya play host to Tunisia. On Sunday Burudi will battle Burkina Faso.
Fixture
Feb 21
Uganda vs Ethiopia
Djibouti vs Togo
Rwanda vs Egypt
Kenya vs Tunisia
Feb 23
Burundi vs Burkina Faso
Hosts South Sudan have suffered a 5-0 defeat to Algeria in the first leg first round of the CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.
Laura Carine Taleb gave the visitors the lead after 20 minutes at the Juba National Stadium after finishing off with a fine header.
South Sudan captained by the experienced Amy Lasu Luaya Lasu tried to fight back to try and level matters, but failed to penetrate the Algerian defending line.
Algeria made it 2-0 after 43 minutes when Lea Soizic Abdoub placed the ball past South Sudan’s goalkeeper Nawal Isaac Majok.
In the second half the visitors were awarded a penalty after 47 minutes, but skipper Guellati Sofia failed to convert from the spot. But the Algerians were hungry for more goals and made it 3-0 two minutes later when Naima Bouhani Ben scored.
After 56 minutes Ghouthia Habiba converted from the spot to make it 4-0. South Sudan defender Dorka Gerald Lokeri got her name on the score sheet with an own goal after 86 minutes when she headed in a well taken Quassila Alduache free-kick.
Seven more teams from the CECAFA Zone will be in action in the first leg of the WAFCON qualifiers with Tanzania taking to the field tomorrow against Equatorial Guinea in Dar es Salaam.
On Friday Uganda Crested Cranes will host Ethiopia, while Djibouti battle Togo, and Rwanda take on Egypt in Kigali. Burundi will take on Burkina Faso on February 23rd, 2025.
The 2026 WAFCON will be hosted by Morocco.
Uganda Crested Cranes Shadia Nankya has joined National Women Super League side in the United States of America, Washington Spirit FC.
The Club confirmed the arrival of the 24-year old defender on February 13th.
The versatile defender joined Washington Spirit on a two year contract from Egypt Women’s Premier League side, FC Masar.
“I am very happy that finally I have joined a big team in a top League in the world. I am ready to work hard and help my team achieve the set goals,” said Nankya.
The defender moves from Egyptian Premier League side FC Masar. She featured in almost all matches for FC Masar last season. Nankya previously played for Uganda Christian University’s Lady Cardinals in the Uganda Women’s Premier League.
“Playing at the highest level in women’s football at the Washington Spirit will also serve as an inspiration to thousands of girls in primary and secondary schools in Uganda and the wider East African region,’ she added.
The NWSL already attracts top African women Football players like Asisat Oshoala, Ifeoma Onumonu, Michelle Alozie, Barbra Banda, Rachael Kundananji (Zambia), Estelle Johnson (Cameroon), Linda Motlhalo (South Africa), Jassmina Barhoumi (Tunisia) and Ghana’s Princess Marfo among others.
CECAFA representatives Tanzania have been drawn in Group C of the inaugural CAF Women’s Futsal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
During the draw conducted on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt, the Tanzanian team has been drawn alongside Madagascar and Senegal.
The competition which will bring together the best nine Futsal teams on the continent will take centre stage from April 22-30th, 2025 in Morocco.
The hosts Morocco have been placed alongside Cameroon and Namibia in Group A, while Group B has Namibia, Egypt and Guinea.
The best two teams will qualifier to represent Africa in the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, scheduled to take place from 21 November – 7 December, 2025 in Philippines.
Group A: Morocco, Cameroon, Namibia
Group B: Angola, Egypt, Guinea
Group C: Madagascar, Tanzania, Senegal
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